The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy awards are live on Sunday, Sept. 21 on ABC and the stars are surely getting ready and gearing up for the big event. Don’t know who to cheer for? Check out OK!’s picks to win, as well as TV Guide channel red carpet correspondent Lisa Rinna’s predictions for a few of the coveted awards.
REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
Nominees: The Amazing Race, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway, Top Chef
Should win: The Amazing Race
Will win: The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race always wins this award, it seems, because frankly put, it’s well done, exciting, and instead of being filmed in a studio, it takes place all over the globe. We wouldn’t be surprised to see it nab the Emmy for the sixth year in a row.
HOST (REALITY PROGRAM)
Nominees: Tom Bergeron (Dancing With the Stars), Heidi Klum (Project Runway), Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal), Jeff Probst (Survivor), Ryan Seacrest (American Idol)
Should win: Tom Bergeron
Will win: Tom Bergeron
Due to Ryan Seacrest overkill, we think the Emmy will go to Tom Bergeron, who acts fast on his feet during the live broadcast of DWTS and manages to be cheesy and endearing at the same time.
SUPPORTING ACTOR (COMEDY)
Nominees: Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Kevin Dillon (Entourage), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Rainn Wilson (The Office).
Should win: Neil Patrick Harris
Will win: Neil Patrick Harris
Besides the fact that NPH does a stellar job on HIMYM, he’s been highly visible this year, acting in Old Spice commercials and "Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog."
SUPPORTING ACTRESS (COMEDY)
Nominees: Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies), Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live), Jean Smart (Samantha Who?), Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men), Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
Should win: Amy Poehler
Will win: Vanessa Williams
While we’d love to see Amy pick this one up (as the first to be nominated in this category in 30 years, fans love Vanessa as evil Wilhelmina Slater, and it could be her turn for an Emmy.
SUPPORTING ACTOR (DRAMA)
Nominees: Ted Danson (Damages), Michael Emerson (Lost), Zeljko Ivanek (Damages), William Shatner (Boston Legal), John Slattery (Mad Men)
Should win: Ted Danson or John Slattery
Will win: William Shatner
Ted’s a TV institution, and John is a show-stealer on Mad Men, but for some reason we can’t quite put our finger on, it feels like this one will go to William’s work as inappropriate lawyer Denny on Boston Legal.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Nominees: Candice Bergen (Boston Legal), Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters), Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy), Dianne Wiest (In Treatment), Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy)
Should win: Dianne Wiest
Will win: Candice Bergen
Backlash after Katherine Heigl’s antics this year has taken the shine off Grey’s Anatomy, so Sandra and Chandra are out. Dianne Wiest already has an Oscar and is brilliant as Gabriel Byrne’s therapist on In Treatment, but our guess is Candice’s TV past will get her the Emmy this year to add to the five she has at home for Murphy Brown.
OUTSTANDING ACTOR (COMEDY)
Nominees: Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carell (The Office), Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies), Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men).
Should win: Alec Baldwin
Will win: Tony Shalhoub
While we feel Alec Baldwin was shafted last year due to bad press surrounding those voicemails he left for his daughter and has recovered nicely in the public eye, Tony Shalhoub has won six awards for his quirky role on Monk, the last in 2005, and who are we to mess with a record like that?
Lisa’s pick: Steve Carell
“I think he is so funny and talented and it is his turn to win. And he is always the best dressed!” she says of The Office actor.
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS (COMEDY)
Nominees: Christina Applegate (Samantha Who), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
Should win: Tina Fey
Will win: Tina Fey
Tina Fey is on a roll this year, having won the Golden Globe already in this category. Plus, she’s just brilliantly hilarious at all times and we can’t imagine her not winning this.
Lisa’s pick: Tina Fey
“She is a comic genius and it’s her year, I’m guessing. She is groovy cool and I always love her designer choices she makes on the red carpet!”
OUTSTANDING ACTOR (DRAMA)
Nominees: Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Hugh Laurie (House), James Spader (Boston Legal)
Should win: Jon Hamm
Will win: Jon Hamm
Having won the Golden Globe for his role as ad exec Don Draper on Mad Men, we wouldn’t be surprised if Jon carries away an Emmy as well this year. Even if you haven’t seen the show, believe us, he is just that good.
Lisa’s pick: Jon Hamm.
“Just awesome, and so new and fresh," she gushes. "I can’t wait to meet him, I’m a big fan. And he’s hot!”
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Nominees: Glenn Close (Damages), Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU), Holly Hunter (Saving Grace), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
Should win: Glenn Close
Will win: Kyra Sedgwick
Glenn deserves an Emmy for her hard-hitting role on Damages, but we think Kyra’s body of work on The Closer is such a wide critical success and favorite with fans that she’ll squeak out a win over Glenn and last year’s winner, Sally Field.
Lisa’s pick: Sally Field
“What a competitive field, all are so amazing. I think Sally’s work was phenomenal this season, as it always is and it just may be her time!" she says. " She wore a gorgeous Valentino last year and I look forward to seeing what designer she chooses this year!”
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
Nominees: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, The Office, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men.
Should win: 30 Rock or The Office
Will win: 30 Rock
While both NBC shows are fan favorites, this is Tina Fey’s year and we think she’ll bring her show with her to the podium again for best comedy series over the popular Entourage, especially since Adrian and the boys were off TV for a year.
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Nominees: Boston Legal, Damages, Dexter, House, Lost, Mad Men.
Should win: Mad Men
Will win: Mad Men
Although it’s currently only in its second season now, Mad Men has already scored 16 Golden Globe wins this year. So why not bag up the Emmy to go, too? Besides the winning streak, the highly-stylized retro show has garnered a lot of buzz, even among those who don’t watch it.
Watch Lisa and her co-host Joey Fatone work the red carpet on Live at the Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. on the TV Guide Channel.
